The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center was closed to the public in January 2023 as it started Phase 2 renovations. Two years later, the renovations are nearly complete, according to city staff.
The MACC’s concept was developed in the early 1970s when several local artists expressed interest in fostering a community center where Hispanic cultural arts could be showcased and preserved, according to the city of Austin’s website. After decades of financial obstacles, a citywide bond package was approved, and the center finally underwent construction. In 2000, the work began, and the facility was completed in 2007.
MACC users can anticipate returning to their space soon.
As MACC involvement increased over the years, the center no longer had enough space to host all of its activities. According to the city, CasaBella Architects began creating an extension of the 2000 Master Plan in 2017, taking the community’s evolving needs into account. In 2020, the city selected Miró Rivera Architects and Tatiana Bilbao Estudio to continue the redesign. More classrooms, studios, and other accommodating spaces were included in the plan, as well as new safety features, rooms with natural lighting, and a closed perimeter surrounding the zócalo, the center’s plaza.
The majority of Phase 2 funding was allocated from a bond passed in 2018 with an emphasis on libraries, museums, and cultural arts facilities, which granted the center $27 million, according to the city. Rental proceeds from nearby properties and parkland dedication fees provided additional funding, along with unused balances from a 2006 bond.
In order to ensure the safety of residents, the MACC facility closed in 2022 and has stayed closed during construction. However, MACC signature events, like Viva México and La Mujer, have relocated to parks and gallery spaces.
But MACC users can anticipate returning to their space soon. The city projects that the updated facility’s fall 2025 opening is on track as major construction progress continues being made. The zócalo’s wall is nearly complete, electrical panels are being installed, and windows are being framed as the center looks toward a steady completion.
Editor’s Note Wednesday, March 19, 1:40pm: This story has been updated. A city spokesperson informed the Chronicle that though CasaBella began work on the redesign in 2017, in 2020 the city ultimately selected Miró Rivera Architects and Tatiana Bilbao Estudio to handle the work.
This article appears in March 14 • 2025.